Smriti Devakumar; his book ‘A Song From Where I Live’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangements
First time, A song from where I live (The Little Dipper Publishing; ₹399) by architect and artist Smrithi Devakumar may seem like a simple picture book for children. The pages burst with color, a fusion of figurative and abstract art, and a minimalistic use of words tinged with nostalgia. Palakkad-based Smrithi collaborated with Hyderabad-based architect and author Anusha Veluswamy who founded a publishing house specializing in illustrated stories. Smrithi explained that the idea started as a children’s book but was shaped into a book for all ages.
“The book was developed to be something that would affect adults,” said Smrithi, speaking by phone from Palakkad, Kerala. A song from where I livewith the suffix PIN Code 678574, is an ode to the village where Peringottukurissi comes from. “Not everyone has the opportunity to live in a village. I had the privilege and decided to portray it through a visual narrative.
Love letter to hometown
Through illustrations, Smrithi presents vivid images of lush green fields covered in golden sunlight, white storks amidst greenery, the colors of the earth and the aroma before the rains. He painted the glorious greens and browns of the earth along with the deep blue pea flowers and pale brown winged seeds gliding through the air. The techniques used for the images are a mixture of hyperrealistic figurative art and semi-abstract forms. A song from where I live less of a story and more of a love letter “to the earth, sky, wind, and everything in between”. The book may not offer a surprising story, but it works for those looking for something unusual.
Nostalgia for the hometown, the author says, is like a totem anchored to a place. “Nowhere, memories can inspire.” Smrithi is passionate about making these works of art and not too scary for readers who might be inspired to recreate or reinterpret the visuals, immersing themselves in their childhood memories. A few Malayalam words appear sporadically in the narrative. Glossary explains words with English translation.
Smrithi says the book was possible partly because of the unhurried lifestyle in Palakkad. He teaches architecture several days a week and devotes his free time to art.
A song from where I live is the third book from The Little Dipper Publishing, the idea is to start at the end of 2021. Anusha, an architect, author and educator, has moved to Hyderabad from Chennai more than ten years ago with her husband, writer-director Vi. Anand. After locking up, he was passionate about publishing and creating visual stories for children and adults. “It was not a vanity project to start a publishing house and tell my own story. I saw a gap in traditional publishing and thought there was room to tell visual stories based on an original feel,” says Anusha, who has written titles such as Mookuthi White Stone Amma (nose pin) and What If The Rainbow Was Your Shadow?
Anusha Veluswamy Photo Credit: Special Arrangements
Visual storytelling for mental health
About what made her think seriously about picture books beyond the children’s realm, Anusha says, “There is research on how picture books can be used in the mental health space for healing effects.” As part of the launch of The Little Dipper Publishing to the market, he wrote Where is Mr Thookam? (sleep) and Mary (rain), portrayed by Janan Abir and Shruti Hemani. Where is Mr. Thookam? won the 2023 Bangalore Atta Galatta Literary Festival Book Prize.
From conversations with readers and friends during the initial writing, Anusha has learned that parents, who are often storytellers for their children, love to intersperse their narratives with childhood anecdotes. Anusha spontaneously found herself using some Tamil words in her story. “Similarly, mentioning traditional games and folk dances is also a conscious decision. It’s not always just a story; sharing memories strengthens the bond between parent and child. If someone tells the story from their environment and perspective, the original language will start. I see it as a way to honor our roots and identity, and celebrate diversity. This approach spreads through A song from where I live also.
(The book is available on Amazon, thelittledipperpublishing.com and some independent bookstores in India)
Published – 21 October 2024 16:07 IST
